Penske Teamsters Authorize Strike Amid Contract Deadlock

The authorization covers members of Teamsters Locals 79, 512, 541, 618, and 769, all operating under the Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Master Agreements. Tensions escalated on the eve of the deadline when the company unexpectedly altered a healthcare proposal that both sides had previously reached a tentative agreement on. Bargaining committee member Mike Schanuth described the move as a direct affront to negotiations.

Rocco Calo, Director of the Teamsters Industrial Trades Division, accused the company of rejecting a functional attendance system while demanding concessions that undermine workers' financial security. The union maintains that Penske’s multibillion-dollar status provides ample room for a fair settlement. With formal negotiations set to continue through the end of the month, the strike authorization serves as a final leverage point to compel the company to abandon its current bargaining stance.